Lincoln Center students, staff meet with nonprofit leadership for knowledge sharing

This October, students and staff from the Lincoln Center for Applied Ethics met with leadership of the Chautauqua Institution at Arizona State University’s Barrett & O’Connor Washington Center in Washington, D.C., for a workshop, co-sponsored by The College of Liberal Arts and Sciences, focused on empowering students and creating an intergenerational opportunity for knowledge sharing.

The partnership between the two institutions is a foundational part of the Lincoln Center legacy. The center's founder, David Lincoln, visited Chautauqua, a nonprofit education center and resort, every summer with his family. Due to the COVID-19 pandemic, Lincoln Center visits to Chautauqua were paused, providing an opportunity to reinvigorate the long-standing partnership between the two institutions.

Following the mission of the Lincoln Center to engage in co-creation, the October visit to Washington, D.C., allowed students to play a role in what the future will look like for the partnership of these two institutions.

Sarah Florini, associate director for the Lincoln Center, said, “Our partnership with the Chautauqua Institution is a tremendously valuable aspect of the Lincoln Center’s work, and we are thrilled to be involving students in new ways that will be enriching for all involved.”

Students on the advisory committee for the Lincoln Center played a key role in discussing core concepts and proposing ideas for curriculum. The committee consisted of students from all over ASU, including The College, the Ira A. Fulton Schools of Engineering, the W. P. Carey School of Business and the Watts College of Public Service and Community Solutions. The workshop also included an opportunity for students to spend an hour with Emmy Award-winning journalist and Wall Street Journal senior personal tech columnist Joanna Stern, during which she provided insights and expertise on responsible AI development and ethical innovation.

The topics and core concepts discussed during the summit will shape the curriculum for the Lincoln Center’s participation in the 2024 Chautauqua summer program, where students will lead a class focused on intergenerational AI.

Every year, Chautauqua hosts a nine-week annual program that allows people of all ages to take a deeper dive into the four foundational pillars of Chautauqua: education, art, religion and recreation. Reflecting on the collaboration, Florini said, “Our students never fail to impress with their knowledge, curiosity and enthusiasm. They have generated some extremely creative and engaging ideas that will facilitate conversation across backgrounds and generations at the Chautauqua Institutes this summer.” 

Jordan Steves, the Emily and Richard Smucker Chair for Education and a representative for Chautauqua, attended the multiple-day co-creative workshop.

“Our time with our Lincoln Center colleagues and their students was truly an invigorating experience and intellectual workout that both sharpened my vision and built up my excitement for what our exploration of 'the AI revolution' can and should seek to deliver for those experiencing Chautauqua next summer,” he said.

The visit sets the stage for future students and opens possibilities for them to connect with professionals and experts only accessible through Chautauqua’s broad social network. The Chautauqua summer program will also provide opportunities for students to gain hands-on experience in leading and developing class curriculum for an audience of all ages.

Students will continue to meet with staff from the Lincoln Center through spring semester to design the class for the Chautauqua summer program.